Hello,
I've seen the debate over whether or not women can be pastors/lead in the church many times, and have gone through many Bible studies in which this is discussed and examined. I also grew up in a church that did NOT believe women could hold positions of authority, unless it was as a deaconess to younger women in the church.
This is NOT meant to be a debate over whether women can be pastors at all.
Rather, I once read a post that addressed something that really sparked my interest, seeing as I grew up in Christian schools.
* If women are not allowed to speak or be leaders/teachers in the church, why are women relied on to teach Sunday School, vacation Bible school, and in Christian schools and colleges (such as what I grew up in)?
* Why do many of these tasks (geared toward children and young adults) seem to automatically be deligated as "women's work"? And yet, I would guess most parents in the churches I grew up in would not bring their kids to Sunday School if the entire Sunday School staff was all men.
I am certainly NOT saying ANYTHING against men who work in ministries that serve children--I'm just saying that when I've asked some parents how they would feel about dropping their kids off with an all-male Sunday School/children/teen church staff, they're don't seem to be entirely comfortable with the idea. But maybe this is only in the churches I've been in?
I have to wonder why it's so often thought that it's perfectly fine (even expected, and a spiritual duty) for women to teach and lead children, and young adults, but not full-grown adults? (I don't meant this as a debate or a criticism, but as an honest question.)
* Does that mean that once her students turn 18 (or 21, or whatever age is defined as being an "adult"), any spiritual leadership and authority she had over them the day before their "adulthood" birthday is now null and void, and does a male studen now automatically have spiritual authority over her, even if she's twice his age?
* If so, why are women allowed to teach at Christian colleges?
* And if a woman loses any spiritual authority over a man when he comes of age, what is being taught in churches to reinforce this? Are young men told that they now have spiritual leadership and authority over the women in the church once they turn that age?
* Will the men of the church tell their wives that they must follow and submit to the spiritual lead of any 18-year-old (or whatever the age of adulthood is seen as) on the ministry staff?
* Why is this topic never addressed whenever it's said that women can't hold positions of spiritual leadership in the church?
I would really like to see this discussed, as it always seemed to be glossed over.
Is a woman allowed to teach your male child/relative, but does he then have spiritual authority over her in the church once he becomes an adult?
Titus2:3 The
aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine,
teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But
I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And
Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour
unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
Genesis 3:13 Then
the Lord God said to the woman,
“What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
16
To the woman he said,
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;
with painful labor you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know that
the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.
God is a God of order. This is the foundation of things. So whether Paul says, Jesus teaches, or God commands we are to obey.
The woman was decieved and this caused man to sin. The man was given authority to rule over the woman. Seeing that the woman is the weaker vessel susceptive to deception, it is the mans spiritual authority to lead. This doesnt mean that man cannot also be decieved, but the consequences fall on the man. So man should be held accountable to teach, lead, and be the head.
Women play a key role in the structure, just because she isnt the head does not make her insignificant. Men have a duty to women. Women are helpful in teaching children and young women to be godly wives.
Im not sure why Christian colleges allow women to teach, but I do not believe in bible college to begin with. So I am biased when jumping to the conclusion, that they are not doing things according to Gods Word. The scriptures I listed are indicators of such.
4
